Why Walking Is Good For Your Health

Have you ever thought about the health benefits of walking? Do you know that a simple walk a day can actually keep the doctor away? Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise anyone can do, and its benefits go beyond helping you shed those extra pounds. To begin with, walking is the simplest form of aerobic exercise which requires no equipment, instructor or special skill. It’s something that can be easily done by people of all ages, shapes, and sizes; all you need is a good pair of walking shoes and the determination to take that first important step!

In this article, we’re going to look beyond and discover why walking is good for your health. In essence, I’m going to let you in on ten reasons why you should start and keep walking. Sounds good? Let’s walk in!

Walking Strengthens Your Bones

Do you know that regular walking can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis? Adopting the habit of walking on a daily basis can help strengthen your bones and keep your legs healthy. According to one Nurses’ Health study, women who walked for at least fours a week witnessed up to 40 percent reduced risk of hip fractures. The best part is that walking offers the same bone-strengthening benefits as other vigorous exercises such as running, weightlifting and jumping. This alone makes walking excellent for those who have to undertake low-impact exercise due to joint issues or just anyone who loves walking.

It Boost Blood Circulation

Setting out time to go for regular walks is also great for your heart. It improves your circulation and also helps lower blood pressure as well as your risk of stroke. The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot to reap the benefits; in essence, taking gentle walks for only thirty minutes a day is more than enough to enhance heart health.

Improves Brain Coordination

Are you getting older? If yes, you should start adopting the habit of going for regular walks. Doing this will decrease your risk of dementia as well as other brain disorders. You should know that aged people who walk over six miles per week are more likely to escape brain shrinkage and retain memory over the years. I also suggest you try walking backward when possible, doing this will help boost your cognition; be sure to give it a shot!

Walking Sharpens Your Memory

Can’t figure out where you dropped your wallet? Well, walking can help bolster that weak memory! You should know that walking on a daily basis can contribute to giving the hippocampus a significant boost. Hippocampus? This is the part of the brain responsible for learning and verbal memory. So if you find that you’re prone to forgetting things unnecessarily, I suggest you start walking more!

5. It Increases Blood Glucose Levels

Walking also plays a significant role in increasing your blood glucose levels, especially after a meal. According to a study in the journal Diabetes Care, a short fifteen minutes walk immediately after a meal has the same effect of lowering blood sugar levels in 24 hours just as a longer 45-minute walk.

It Makes You Happy

Yes, you heard it right, walking makes you happy! For starters, exercise improves your mood. Several studies show that a walking has similar effects of antidepressants in mild cases of depression. It releases feel-good endorphins which help reduce stress and anxiety. So if you’re looking to have a positive mental health, be sure to include walking in your daily routine.

Reduces Pain Associated With Arthritis and Fibromyalgia

Are you suffering from arthritis or fibromyalgia? Well, taking a walk several days a week may help make you feel better. Since walking is a low-impact exercise, it can help lessen pain and improve function.

Walking also gives you the opportunity to enjoy a good night sleep. Moreover, a morning walk is sure to come in handy since the natural sunlight can improve your connection with your natural circadian rhythms.

It Also Boosts Your Immunity

Want to stay healthy for years? If so, ensure to take daily steps. Going on daily walks may help your body fight against sickness and diseases. It also helps you to maintain a healthy weight which in turn reduces your risk of diseases including Type 2 diabetes and cancer.

It Tones Your Body

This is pretty obvious. Walking also gives you a perfectly toned body. It gives definition to your calves, hamstrings, quads as well as your glutes. You can add a little hill walking to make it more effective! Be sure to focus on your posture while you’re at it and you’ll get to tone your abs and waist.

And that’s it. With all that has been said, we can conclude that the health benefits walking provides for us cannot be overemphasized. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of walking is that it’s an excellent motivator to do more when it comes to activities in your daily life. Once you adopt the habit of walking, your body will come to appreciate the feeling of motion and will be willing to cover longer miles. Just be sure to take that step, and you’ll be well on your way to perfect health!

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Chief Editor Bio

Lilly Derrah is the chief editor of ShoesTracker.com, a place where she shares the journey of regaining her foot health after exercise injuries in 2015. She lives in San Diego, besides writing Lilly loves to read, run, and go to yoga classes.